DIY projects thread

That "fake" back works really well :thumbsup:
 
Thanks mate, I thought it might work and I think it has.

At a glance the only thing that really gives it away is the skirting.

I drew a line at fixing skirting board to the inside of a tv unit 😂
 
Wanted a garden sofa set and the wooden ones were £800+. Ikea had a reasonable priced set so ordered but on the day of collection they only had 2 of the 11 items I ordered in stock (despite what click and collect said) and no idea when the rest will come in. Got annoyed so cancelled ikea and ordered from Selco

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£200 worth of planed 2x4 and 3x4, and a sliding mitre saw from toolstation that was on offer.

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Timber all cut down to size. Thought didn't really want butt joints so tried mitre, rabbet and dado joints instead - not easy with a mitre saw maybe ill invest in a router if another project comes up.

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Quite pleased with the end result. Some problems along the way over enthusiasm with the mitre saw meant that some of the 2x4 used may end up being 1x2 after aggressive sanding and the armrest were alot lower then I wanted so need to fix that but all in all a good job. Cushions on the way from ebay and still need to decide whether to stain or paint but at least have somewhere to sit in the garden for now.
 
I've got a build thread elsewhere, but I couldn't find what I wanted to put my TV on and my projector screen behind. I built this myself, including the screen (apart from the material obviously :D ). I used the offcuts left over from the Oak top to make the surrounds to the cabinet. An Ikea Besta unit, plus a chunky shelf from a local glass supplier.

The TV drops down on an electric lift when I want to use the projector screen behind:

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Got various DIY jobs done during this lock down including replacing a small sink in our downstairs shower room, so I can have a shave in it after a shower in the morning. Just got the new shower door installed this weekend. During lock down I've stripped it all down, regrouted, re-siliconed and generally cleaned and polished it all. Considering I did the room 15 years ago (from a bare shell after the boiler was relocated) it's looking pretty decent again I think:


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I made these planters from decking boards a few years ago, so they've all had a touch up of fresh paint and are lasting well (every path/patio has been pressure washed too, even the basic concrete one in this photo that leads to our meter cupboard):
Planter 1.jpg


My grand daughter is starting to climb things, so I wanted to make our pond a bit safer for her next visit, so I added this metal mesh cover with strengthening bars:
Pond.jpg


Current project is modifying a 6x4 shed to fit down the side of our house in a 33" wide gap, so we can relocate the gardening stuff from the main shed and then replace that with an insulated 'garden room' for my wife's art room/my drum kit (probably not at the same time though :D).
 
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My upstairs bathroom at present 😂

The ceiling looks the same, nice starting with a blank canvas. No wonder it's cold, it didn't have insulation lol.

I'll post pics when it's back together. IMG_20200709_141846.jpg
 
I've got one similar to that somewhere from when I moved everything in our upstairs bathroom; not one item ended up back where it was originally so there were lots of new pipes, soil pipes included.

Some cracking projects on this thread; I especially like the tidy garage ones because I never seem to get to that stage myself as my garage becomes a store room for whatever DIY project I'm on at the time...and there's always one on the go/just finished/just starting. :blush: :D
 
A long conference call that didn’t require any input from me, and I’ve had another go at the carpet. I really should plan this rather than just jumping in.
Bar one tile, this half of the garage is done.
New garage computer on the wall next to where the turbo goes (for ant+ closeness) and cables (largely) hidden. Just need to fashion something for the winter to protect against the cold.
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I've started 'phase 1' of our next garden project: To replace our existing shed with an insulated garden room for my wife to do her art in and with space for my electronic drum kit.

First step is to install a smaller shed to move the tools into. I had to modify an off the shelf shed to fit down the side of our house. I couldn't find one 2'9" wide by 6' long, so I cut a 4' x 6' shed down instead, which was fun working out how much I needed to cut off each section (roof, back panel, floor and front panel).

I think it turned out pretty well in the end though. I'll spend this weekend moving the tools over to it and trying to get everything to fit. There's a bit of duplication, so hopefully I'll be able to fit in what is needed as the current shed is 8' x 6'. :eek:

View from the front:
Tool shed.jpg


This is the sort of thing I'm planning on building: I've looked at buying ready made/self assembly ones, but the price for the size we're after (3.5m x 2.5m approx) is around £7,000 for something properly insulated with decent uPVC doors and windows. I reckon I can build something for under half that, plus it means I don't have to wait for the showrooms to open so we can go and see what they are like close up. I will probably start a separate build thread for it once I get started, currently researching all the bits and pieces I will need.

Garden Room sample.jpg


Hopefully one of our neighbours will want our existing shed as it's still in great condition after about 8 years use. My wife even did a bit of a 'Banksy' on it during the lockdown to help with her boredom. :D

Current garden Shed.jpg
 
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I've been considering getting a small coffee table for the lounge... Didn't want to buy one then decide I didn't like it it want it so..
Two old pallets remaining...
Fair bit of sanding and varnishing and adding wheels..
Then it turned out to be FARRRRR too big.
So I chopped it in half and rebuilt it, then added some drawers...
 

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Bought this the other day, 24 hours from ordering to delivery, added 10 glue sticks to the order, Total £29.99

TEC 305 12mm Craft Glue Gun | Glue Guns Direct - Glue Guns & Glue Sticks UK

Had a cheapo £4.99 from Ebay previously, load of junk. This one is brilliant, apply as much or as little as you want, tried it out on some scraps of wood and ply.
I bonded the ply, edge to edge, and it compressed down to a nearly invisible joint. Left it an hour to really give it chance, although the initial bond was immediate.
I had to put it in a vice to break the joint, and the thing is, it was the ply that gave up, the glue line was intact, the actual ply had pulled itself apart.
Highly recommended if you have a need for such an item!

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It came in a blister pack, and I didn't want it just kicking around the workshop, so knocked together this to keep it safe.

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Box construction is 6mm pine, bandsawed to approximate width, then run through a Triton lunchbox thicknesser to final size.
The box joints were made using my homemade boxjoint jig.
Lid and base are 3mm Birch ply. Handle is an offcut of Walnut I had laying around, dimensioned then 1/4 rounded with a Katsu laminate trimmer.
Hardware is 20mm piano hinge from A C Sisslings (Local ironmonger, also stock Hafele) Toggle catches are from Screwfix.
Used the Tec 305 to hold the hinge in place, then secured the hinge with screws.
All parts sanded to a 240 grit finish.
Finish is "No Nonsense" (Screwfix) quick drying gloss floor varnish, more a high satin than gloss imo.
All internal components were varnished prior to final glue-up/assembly, all joints including lid and base masked off before application to aid the glue-up.
 
Bought this the other day, 24 hours from ordering to delivery, added 10 glue sticks to the order, Total £29.99

TEC 305 12mm Craft Glue Gun | Glue Guns Direct - Glue Guns & Glue Sticks UK

Had a cheapo £4.99 from Ebay previously, load of junk. This one is brilliant, apply as much or as little as you want, tried it out on some scraps of wood and ply.
I bonded the ply, edge to edge, and it compressed down to a nearly invisible joint. Left it an hour to really give it chance, although the initial bond was immediate.
I had to put it in a vice to break the joint, and the thing is, it was the ply that gave up, the glue line was intact, the actual ply had pulled itself apart.
Highly recommended if you have a need for such an item!

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It came in a blister pack, and I didn't want it just kicking around the workshop, so knocked together this to keep it safe.

View attachment 1347844View attachment 1347845

Box construction is 6mm pine, bandsawed to approximate width, then run through a Triton lunchbox thicknesser to final size.
The box joints were made using my homemade boxjoint jig.
Lid and base are 3mm Birch ply. Handle is an offcut of Walnut I had laying around, dimensioned then 1/4 rounded with a Katsu laminate trimmer.
Hardware is 20mm piano hinge from A C Sisslings (Local ironmonger, also stock Hafele) Toggle catches are from Screwfix.
Used the Tec 305 to hold the hinge in place, then secured the hinge with screws.
All parts sanded to a 240 grit finish.
Finish is "No Nonsense" (Screwfix) quick drying gloss floor varnish, more a high satin than gloss imo.
All internal components were varnished prior to final glue-up/assembly, all joints including lid and base masked off before application to aid the glue-up.

Did you do the box joints on a table saw or router?
 
Gazebo, sunken seating area & decking for my sister.
 

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Arcade stick (tried wrapping ended up pealing it and spraying), decking & a gazebo for my mate (no decent finished pictures) and laminate flooring & ceiling mounted TV.
 

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A couple of my projects over the last year. Kids trampoline area turned into a man cave/hot tub shelter (work still ongoing but it’s mainly finished), and a living room renovation with false wall/5.1.2 Atmos setup. I did get a plasterer in but the rest was DIY.

Just about to start building 6x2x3’ vivariums in the new shed for my Boa Constrictors to live in. :)

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Nice work :cool:
 
This has been really useful...Dont always want to be stuck in the workshop..Gerry made this for that reason....
 

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I was looking for a place to share my lockdown project and found this thread - love it!

I've been collecting booze for a while and wanted a place to store it, so decided to create a home bar. I wanted it to have a similar feel to the pubs where I come from (Galway) so it's fairly traditional looking which might not be to everyone's taste. I'm pleased with how it turned out though. I also made the stand for the record player in the second pic with some spare wood.

One thing I haven't done yet is pour resin onto the surface - I have purposely left a lip around the edges on the top to factor for this. Having never used resin, I'm slightly scared I screw it up...

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Nice work kav :thumbsup:
 

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